Underground water channels

A qanāt is a gently sloping underground channel with a series of vertical access shafts, used to transport water from an aquifer under a hill. They create a reliable supply of water for human settlements and irrigation in hot, arid, and semi-arid climates.

In southern Morocco, the qanat known as khettara is also used. On the margins of the Sahara Desert, the isolated oases of the Draa River valley and Tafilalt have relied on qanat water for irrigation since the late 14th century.

Date palm tree groves on both sides of the road are possible because of the channels.

This gorgeous gate is in Rissani.

Rissani is a town in eastern Morocco, located near Erfoud. It is in the region of Er-Rachidia, and is the closest town of significant size to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco’s two Saharan ergs – large seas of dunes formed by wind-blown sand.

Our next hotel was in Mezouga. Hotel Kasbah Asmaa is incredible. Patricia chose that hotel for our group the minute she saw these two camels: